Heartland Tower, Night…
Kite slightly opened the door to Lulu's room. There, he found her sleeping with Hart held in her arms. This was nothing new. Whenever Lulu felt particularly healthy, she'd want to be close to Hart in hopes of helping him remember.
Kite placed his hand on the door frame and sighed. "What that girl said… Now that things have calmed down… I don't know."
The Number Hunter felt a hand on his shoulder and whirled around only to see Shay who held a finger to his lips. He nodded to the right. Kite closed the door and walked with him.
Once they were a decent distance from the room, Shay spoke up. "What are we going to do about the envoy? From what I can tell, he was using an improved version of Yuma's deck. I'm uncertain if this is deliberate or coincidence. Weather Yuma has the same deck or not."
"With the envoy on their side, we must not underestimate either of these Number holders." Kite stated. "They have also surrounded themselves with talent. We must ensure our decks are ready for the next time we face them."
Shay nodded. "Mine will be. The envoy tied with me, but that outcome won't transpire again."
Kite closed his eyes and sighed. "Shay, what do you think Hart and Lulu would say if they knew what we're doing? I mean, fully knew what we were doing."
Shay stopped. "Come on Kite, you know we agreed, after the initial Numbers, that we wouldn't talk about this."
"I don't think we can ignore this Shay." Kite stated. "Hart and Lulu would hate us if they knew what we were doing."
Shay angrily punched the wall. "You don't think I know that!" He looked at Kite. "I stole some girl's soul. She didn't have a Number, yet I made the conscious choice to do that."
"I made the conscious choice to do the same to a boy." Kite sighed.
The Galaxy user, in seeing his brother like this, realized just how much their current line of work was affecting them.
"Kite, are we to far gone?" Shay sighed. "Maybe… Maybe we should…"
Kite spoke up firmly. "Don't think like that." Shay looked at him. "You know as well as I do how important our work is for Hart and Lulu."
"I don't deny that it is important, but how we've gone about it would go against everything they'd want." Shay stated frustrated.
"I know… I know that now." Kite took a deep breath. "I think the important first step is to release our remaining souls. With the Numbers already in our possession, keeping them isn't important. Afterwards, we must work on the Photon Hand."
Shay calmed down. "Between the two of us, it shouldn't be hard to tweak it." He shook his head. "I'm sorry Kite."
"No Shay, I'm sorry." Kite stated. "I was the first to sign onto this project and you followed, so I didn't go it alone. I should have realized sooner how this was affecting us. How it would have affected our siblings. We cannot turn into Dr. Faker."
Shay nodded. "I agree with you on that."
They shared a brotherly hug before getting to work. The WDC would be here before they knew it, and this new version of the Photon Hand needed to be ready.
Tsukumo Residence, Morning…
Yuma and Lance were running down the stairs dressed in their school attire.
"Yuma why is it that I'm always running behind schedule when I stay here?" Lance asked.
"I don't know." Yuma retorted.
They ran by Kari who stopped them. "Hold on a second you two."
The boys started running in place.
Yuma said, "We don't have a second. We're going to be way late unless we leave right now and Lance pedals like the wind."
Kari addressed them. "Those clothes you boys dumped on the floor smelt like smoked fish, and this morning I read a story about an explosion down at the warehouse district last night. Lance, you didn't take Yuma on anything dangerous, did you?"
"Of course not." Lance stated. "If he went anywhere dangerous, it was of his own accord. I was simply out patrolling the streets and came across that scene. Not much a dueling superhero can do against a roaring fire."
"Look Kari, can we just get going?" Yuma stated. "We don't want to be late."
"Just run already Yuma." Lance threw open the door. "We can deal with Kari's anger later."
"Good point." Yuma stated as he followed.
Kari ran to the door as the boys jumped on Lance's bike. "Hey, I wasn't done!" She sighed as Lance pedaled off. "Those two."
Streets of Heartland
Lance was pedaling along as Astral appeared. "Yuma, your sister is quite intuitive. She will eventually find out what you are involved in."
"Don't worry about it Astral." Lance answered. "I managed to keep my identity as the Sentai Ranger quiet around her before you came along. I won't deny that Kari is intuitive, but that just means we must be clever."
Yuma smiled. "I'm just glad we got Shark and Tori's souls back as well as our pendants." He chuckled. "I guess I'm okay with you being back as well."
"I'm definitely glad your back." Lance laughed. "Yuma would be lost in a duel without you."
"That's not true!" Yuma shouted.
"Says the kid who, shortly before meeting Astral, played a monster in the spell and trap card zone followed up by a spell in the monster zone." Lance retorted.
Yuma blushed embarrassed. "No comment."
Astral chuckled and looked ahead. "I must admit that I do feel a bit shaken over what happened last night. The fact that those brothers have the power to enter the key is concerning."
"Yeah, those two are just full of surprises." Yuma stated seriously. "It's like every time I think we have them figured out; they throw us a curveball."
"Those two are some of the most powerful duelist I've ever seen." Lance sighed. "I think they could even beat my mom when she's using her tournament deck. I haven't really seen my grandpa in genuine action, but together they could very well beat him."
"What I want to know is how Astral's memories are supposed to save their siblings?" Yuma questioned.
"If we consider that these are only my memories, perhaps stopping me is meant to be their true objective." Astral commented.
"Huh, you mean they're duelist someone else is using to defeat you?" Lance asked.
"It's a strong possibility." Astral stated. "It's likely someone higher-up is feeding them his word that he can heal their siblings. Weather this is lie or truth would be unknown to us. In the end, it is merely a theory."
"There's probably a lot we could say that would be just as true." Yuma stated.
A storm seemed to be rolling in as Lance pedaled onward.
Heartland City: Roof Nearby…
A tall figure stood on the roof. They wore a black cloak, black boots, and black gloves with the hood up obscuring their features. This figure stared down at Lance, Yuma, and Astral before vanishing as Astral looked in their direction.
Heartland Academy
Lance and Yuma rode onto the academy grounds only for Lance to slow as both boys observed their friends and other students frozen in time.
"Lance, the people outside our school were moving before, right?" Yuma asked.
"They were." He stopped and peddled back up the stairs only to see that the people outside of the academy were frozen as well. "Not anymore."
Yuma began frantically looking around. "I don't see Kite or Shay anywhere."
"This isn't them." Astral spoke up. "It's something else."
Heartland Tower: Monitor Room
Mr. Heartland stood before a hologram of Dr. Faker. "Dr. Faker, what is going on?"
"Two electromagnetic surges, Astral and Barian world, collided here on earth. Because of that energy colliding, time on earth has stopped." Dr. Faker explained.
"How can time just stop?" Heartland asked.
"It's a side effect of our current project." Dr. Faker explained. "In mere hours, things will go back to normal. The only thing this tells us is that we must hurry and deal with Astral World." He sighed. "Once things are normal, do what you can with Hart. Just don't kill him."
"Yes sir." Heartland stated.
Streets of Heartland
Yuma and Lane biked through the now frozen city.
"Look up." Astral stated.
Both boys did and, to their shock, they saw the normal yellow sun, a blue sun, and a red sun.
"What is going on?" Yuma asked shocked. "Why are there three suns in the sky?"
Astral stared at the suns longer. "I believe one of those suns shines on my world."
With Kite and Shay
The brothers flew above the frozen city.
"I hope you're right about this Orbital." Kite stated. "If this doesn't prove useful, then you've dragged us away from a very important project."
They all landed.
"Trust me masters Kite and Shay. You will not be disappointed." Orbital stated. "We can go to every location and trace the journey of the envoy since arriving in our world. This very spot was host to a couple of battles, but the most memorable is their meeting."
With Lance, Yuma, and Astral
Astral gripped his head in pain.
"Astral, you okay?" Lance asked concerned.
"Someone is trying to get inside my head and access my memories." Astral declared. "We must revisit the places we have dueled."
Astral flew off.
"You heard him Yuma." Lance stated. "You go with Astral; meanwhile, I'll visit the places I've dueled myself."
Yuma hopped off. "Right."
He started running and Lance peddled off in a different direction.
Alleyway
Lance pulled up to the alleyway that started it all only to find the person in the black cloak standing there. "Hey, are you the one whose doing this to Heartland or the one accessing memories?"
"I am neither." The figure spoke with a male voice. "I am here to say you should retire from duel monsters."
"I don't know who you are, but I love dueling." Lance declared. "No way I'm about to give it up because some guy comes along and tells me to."
"Is that so?" The figure stated. "Very well I will just have to show you that your skills are useless." A black D-pad sprang up as a black glow came from what Lance could only assume was the left eyes. "If you win, I will answer any further questions you have."
"Read me like a book on that one." Lance declared. "Fine, before we go at it, what do I call you?"
"Call me Organization." The figure stated.
D-pad go
Duel Gazer on
Augmented vision link established
(Lance 4000/Organization 4000)
"I activate Keyblade Wielders Unite. This spell allows me to add a Keyblade Wielder from my deck to my hand every time I normal summon a monster. The only caveat is that the Keyblade Wielder must have has less attack than the monster summoned." Organization informed.
"Keyblade Wielder? What type of monsters are those?" Lance thought.
"I will now normal summon Xion(LV 4/1000/1000)." A young female, with black hair, in the same black cloak as Organization appeared. "Due to my spell, I can add a Keyblade Wielder with less ATK to my hand. Since I control a Keyblade Wielder, I can special summon King Micky(LV 4/1300/1200)."
A big mouse on two legs appeared. "Now I will use Micky to give Xion a tune up and Synchro for 8. Synchro Summon Ultimate Heartless Sora(LV 8/3000/3000)." A young man with darkened skin and white hair appeared. "I then set one card."
Lance drew. "I activate Predaplast. This allows me to grant your monsters a Predaplant Counter provided I reveal a Predaplant monster. I'll reveal Predaplant Chlamydosundew(LV 2/600/200) before normal summoning him."
A green lizard appeared. "This monster is special because I can use him to fusion summon in a variety of ways. One such way is the ability to use him and any monster my opponent controls with a Predaplant Counter.
Such as your powerful Synchro monster. Now Fusion Summon Predaplant Chimerafflesia(LV 7/2500/2000)." A plant with a red flower on top and venus fly traps for arms appeared. "It will attack you directly."
"I activate my face down Magic:Areoga. This trap negates your attack and deals half your monster's ATK as life point damage to you (Lance 2750/Organization 4000)." Organization countered. "I'll admit, I'm impressed you got rid of my Synchro because that Sora couldn't be destroyed by battle and has a nasty follow up effect to go with it."
"I'll admit your strategy was sound." Lance declared. "You set up two lines of defense and ensured I'd end up taking damage. I set one card."
Organization drew. "I activate Magic:Curaga allowing me to target two Keyblade Wielders in my grave. The first target gets summoned while the second is added to my hand. I only have two monsters in the grave. The one I special summon is Xion(LV 4/1000/1000).
I'll then normal summon King Micky(LV 4/1300/1200) which in turns activates my continuous spell to add a Keyblade wielder with less attack from my deck to my hand. Now I overlay my two level four monster to Xyz summon Saix(R 4/O 2/2500/1500)."
A man with shoulder length blue hair and wearing a black cloak appeared. "By detaching both overlay units, my monster can double his ATK until your next End Phase. He will now attack your Predaplant."
"The same ability as Excalibur only he's got more ATK to double." Lance thought. "I activate my face down Phantom Knights' Wing. This grants my monster 500 more ATK and prevents the first time it'd be destroyed. In addition, my monster's effect activates decreasing your monster's attack by 1000 and giving that to my monster until the end of this turn."
"Not happening." Organization declared. "I activate Saix's second effect that can only be activated once per duel. By banishing a monster from my grave, I can negate any effect that causes Saix to lose ATK (Lance 750/Organization 4000). My victory is assured. I set one card."
"You can think that all you want, but the duel isn't over until the last card is played." Lance drew. "I'll summon The Phantom Knights of Ragged Gloves(LV 3/1000/500)." Purple energy with black gloves appeared.
"Since I control a Phantom Knight, I can special summon The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots(LV 3/200/1200)." Blue energy in the shape of a human without arms and ragged brown clothing appeared.
"Now, I construct the overlay network with my two level three monsters to Xyz summon The Phantom Knights of Break Sword(R 3/O 2/3000/1000 effect)." A black armor energy being atop a matching horse and wielding a blade appeared.
"I activate His ability allowing me to detach an overlay unit and destroy both a monster I control and one you control. I'll choose Break Sword and Saix. When Break sword is destroyed, I can special summon two Phantom Knights from my grave and make them one level higher.
Welcome back, The Phantom Knights of Ragged Gloves(LV 4/1000/500) and The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots(LV 4/200/1200). I overlay my level four monsters to Xyz summon Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon(R 4/O 2/3500/2000 effect)." A black and purple dragon appeared.
"I activate my face down Keyblade Fusion. By banishing two Keyblade Wielders, from hand or grave, I can special summon any Fusion Monster from my extra deck. I now special summon Wisdom Sora(LV 7/2500/1200)." A young man with brown hair and blue and black clothing appeared. "He is unaffected by card effects" Organization stated.
"Then I'll just have my Predaplant clash with your Wisdom destroying them both." Lance declared. ""Now Xyz Dragon attack Organization directly (Lance 750/Organization 1500). I end my turn with a face down."
Organization drew. "This duel is finished. I summon Aqua(LV 4/1600/1700)." A short young woman with blue hair appeared. "Due to my continuous spell, I can add another Keyblade Wielder from my deck to my hand as long as it has less ATK."
"I'll follow up by activating the Ritual Spell, Armor Up. The monsters I Ritual summon with spell are 8 stars; however, if I use the corresponding monster, then I only need the one. Aqua is one of those monsters. I now Ritual Summon Armor Aqua(LV 8/2400/1700)."
A woman in blue and silver armor appeared. "Her effect allows me to add a spell card from my grave to my hand on the condition that I banish a card from my grave. The spell I added was Magic: Curaga which I'm activating once more.
The one I special summon is Xion(LV 4/1000/1000). The one added to my hand was King Micky(LV 4/1300/1200) which I can special summon thanks to their being other Keyblade wielders on the field.
In this moment, you have given me no choice, but to use a special card of mine. I now build the overlay network with King Micky and Xion to Xyz summon Number 108: Xemnas(R 4/O 2/2500/2000)." A tall man with shoulder length white hair and black cloak appeared.
"A Number over 100!" Lance shouted in shock. "I thought there were only 100 Numbers!"
"That's your mistake for assuming." Organization declared. "Now Xemnas will target your Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon with his ability. By detaching one overlay units, he can reduce your dragon's ATK to 0. Armor Aqua will attack your dragon (Lance 0/Organization 1500)."
Lance was blown onto his back and Organization walked up to him. "Consider this a warning. One day, duelists just as strong as I will come. If you're smart, you will give them or me the Numbers. Refuse, and I will not guarantee your safety."
Organization walked on until Lance stood up determined as ever. "I've already felt terrible through one loss. I will not fall down that hole again. You or your people, whoever they are, can come at me because I'll be ready."
The Organization member did not look back. "Then you've sealed your fate."
The black cloaked individual left.
With Yuma and Astral
The pair had been all over the city seeing both their duels and Lance's until they ended up at the location of Lance's duel with Dark Mist. There, on a distant roof, they spotted Kite and Shay who were looking at Yuma. Then, time returned to normal and the number Hunters left.
At that moment, Lance rode up on his bike noticing the Number Hunter's departure. "Yuma and Astral, we got more problems, and I'm not talking about Kite and Shay."
They both looked at him as he delved into the explanation of what happened.
"An over 100 Number!" Yuma exclaimed.
Lance nodded. "An over 100 Number in the hands of another powerful duelist." Lance moved his arm out in front of him. "I have never heard of Keyblade Wielders, but the deck was capable of all four summoning methods."
Yuma looked to Astral. "What do you know about them?"
Astral had a hand on his chin before shaking his head. "I do not know anything. Rather, I may not remember anything about them. If I do have any knowledge of these over 100 Numbers, which there might be at least 8, it'd be with the Numbers part of my memory."
"So, these over 100 Numbers aren't part of your memories?" Yuma questioned.
"That I can be certain of." Astral nodded.
Lance sighed. "The only thing we can do is prepare for the WDC. I mean absolutely prepare. If our enemies are going to strike, that's a prime opportunity to do so."
Yuma smiled. "We'll take on anyone that comes for our Numbers."
Lance looked at his friend. "By the way Yuma, I got an invitation to compete and have long since given my confirmation that I'll be there. Have you applied?"
Yuma fell to the ground. "I forgot!"
Lance sighed, took out a tablet, and opened the application. "Do it now." He handed it off. "You and I need to be in this tournament together."